Dental bite correlator



Dec. 4, 1962 E. 6. JARVIS DENTAL BITE CORRELATOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 18, 1960 FIG-2 F IG. 5

INVENTOR.

EDWARD 0 JARVIS ATTORNEYS E. C. JARVIS Dec. 4, 1962 DENTAL BITE CORRELATOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 18, 1960 FIGS INVENTOR. EDWARD C. JARVIS ATTORNEYS United States Patent Ofiice 3,056,414 Patented Dec. 4, 1962 3,866,414 DENTAL BETTE CURRELATQR Edward C. Earvis, 2591 Meetinghouse Lane, Merion Station, Pa. Filed Nov. is, 196%), so. No. 70,327 6 Qiairns. (QB. 32-19) This invention relates to a device which facilitates the precise recording of the exact anatomical relationship of the upper and lower jaws of a patient. More particularly the present invention relates to a device which accomplishes the transferral of the foregoing relationship to an articulating device so that a set of artificial dentures may possess a balanced occlusion. Accordingly, it follows that the present invention has as its primary objective the establishment of the patients correct bite and the relationship of the upper and lower jaws in centric position just as he had before with his own teeth. This is known as the centric relation.

It is of great significance in the art of artificial dentures that considerable amount of work, measurements, etc. must be done against soft tissues which are compressible and easily distorted. Hence the most direct method of obtaining the centric relation has proved to be often misleading and unreliable.

The direct method generally comprises fitting the upper jaw with a bite block adjusted to proper dimensions. A lower bit block is inserted with wax rims softened by heat and the patient instructed to close his mouth. The bite blocks are united at this time and then appropriately mounted in an articulator and the teeth set up in this relationship.

This direct technique has proved, however, to be inadequate because regardless of the softness of the heated wax, it is still resistant enough to create unequal pressures which are not discernible to the dentist because of the compressibility and easy distortion of the underlying soft tissues. In this manner the patients own bite is employed to distort the relationship of the bite blocks with the resultant improper occlusal balance This is so aften readily apparent when the finished dentures are inserted and noted to occlude incorrectly.

In any event balanced occlusion is absolutely necessary for natural function with a minimum of pain and a maximum of comfort for the patient.

Toward this end various mechanical devices have been introduced to achieve balanced occlusion. These, devices have, however, proved to be awkward and generally disruptive of the natural bite so as either to interfere with the relaxation of the tongue and throat muscles or to distort the normal bite by creating unequal pressures in the mouth. Still other devices have been outside the mouth thereby creating an unbalanced weight to distort soft tissues.

It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide a device which conveys to artificial dentures the anatomical relationship of the upper and lower jaws of the mouth of a patient.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a device which is simple in construction and use and also economical in manufacture.

The foregoing as well as other objects of the invention are achieved by providing a dental bite correlator which includes basically a U-shaped bite adjuster rim which is attached to the upper jaw base plate and which may be either tipped to one side or backwardly and forwardly in accordance with the centric relation to obtain balanced occlusion. The above specified tipping actions are achieved by a sideward bridge pivotally secured at each end thereof to the U-shaped adjuster rim (backward and forward tipping) and by a base plate bracket which is pivo-tally secured to said sideward bridge and fixedly secured to the exposed central area of the upper jaw base plate. Means are also provided to facilitate the marking of the centric relation and also for locking the bite adjuster rim in a given position.

Other objects and many of the attendant advantages of this invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the present invention afiixed to the upper jaw base plate;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the lines 2-2, showing also the lower jaw bite block and the base plate and bite block as affixed in the patients mouth;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the lines 33 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged top plan view of the base plate bracket;

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of the bite adjuster FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 1 of a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along the lines 77 of FlG. 6 in the manner of FIG. 2;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the lines 8--8 of FIG. 7; and

FIG. 9 is a rear perspective view showing the device of FIG. 1 with the base plate removed in a locked condition via associated locking means.

Referring now in greater detail to the various figures of the drawings wherein similar reference characters refer to similar parts, a dental bite correlator constituting a first embodiment of the present invention is generally shown at It in FIG. 1. Device 10 basically comprises a U-shaped bite adjuster rim 12 which is adapted to be secured to upper base plate 14 (adhered to upper jaw 13) via base plate bracket 16 which is also pivotally secured to sideward bridge 18 that is in turn pivotally secured to bite adjuster rim 12 as indicated in FIG. 3.

The U-shaped adjuster rim 12 is constructed of suitable strong metal and is shown in FIG. 1 in its operative position as will be discussed in greater detail hereinafter. Adjuster rim 12 includes a planar base 21 which is to conform to the disposition of the configuration of the lower jaw 15. Front portion 22 of base 20 is cornplementary to the front teeth of the lower jaw 15 and as shown in FIG. 2, side arms 24 of base 29 are complementary to the sides 26 (indicated schematically) of the lower jaw 15.

A flange portion 28 projects upwardly from each of the side arms 24. Pivot-ally secured to flange portions 28 which include appropriate apertures for this purpose (FIG. 2) as at 30 and 32 is sideward bridge 18 also having appropriate apertures which includes end flanges 34 for making the aforementioned pivotal connections 30 and 32. Flanges 34 then merge into the interior portion of bridge 18 which is corrugated and which generally comprise S-shaped sections 36 which merge into inverted U-shaped pivotal element 38.

Nested within element 38 is a pivot pin 40 (FIG. 2) including end pins 42 (FIG. 3) to effect the pivotal connection to base plate bracket 16 which includes end flanges 44 with appropriate apertures for this purpose. Pin 40 is revolvably telescoped within sleeve 41 which is soldered or Welded to element 38. Flanges 44 of bracket 16 merge into central body portion 46 which includes a sideward slot 48 for locking purposes as will be discussed in greater detail hereinafter.

Projecting upwardly from body portion 46 are a pair .33 of attachment cars 50 and 52 which are fixedly secured to upper base plate 14 in a known manner.

At this point it should be noted that upper base plate 14 is secured to upper jaw 13 via waxy interlayer 54 and lower bite blocks 56 are secured via waxy interlayer 58 to lower jaws 26. The waxy interlayers 54 and 58 assure accurate seating in the mouth. Formed in front portion 22 of planar base 20 of adjuster rim 12 are notches 60, 62 and 64 which assist the dentist in marking the precise occlusion of the upper and lower jaws as Will be discussed hereinafter. Formed in side arms 24 of base 20 are notches 66 and 6 8 which cooperate with slot 48 in base plate bracket 16 and notches '70 and "/2 in flange portions 28 of adapter 12 through the medium of a locking bail 74 (FIG. 9) as will be discussed hereinafter. It is also to be noted as shown in FIG. 2 that teeth 59 are appropriately set-up and associated with lower bite blocks 56.

In operation device 10 is afiixed to upper jaw base plate 14 as shown in FIG. 1 for reasons and in a manner which will be discussed hereinafter. For present purposes it is important to recognize as best illustrated in FIG. 2 that side arms 24 of bite adjuster rim 12 may conform with the lower jaws to effect balanced occlusion or to achieve the proper centric relation. Should one ridge of the lower jaw be higher than the other ridge, adjuster rim 12 may tip sidewardly about pivot pin 46 so that the upper denture when made will conform with the lower jaw to correct centric relation. Likewise, the front of t.e lower jaw may be higher than the rear thereof. In this situation adjuster rim 12 may tip rearwardly about pivots 3t) and 32 to achieve balanced occlusion. Similarly the present device will quickly achieve an even undistorted adaptation of the upper device to the lower bite block at every point of contact and biting pressure will be natural and distributed in a natural manner to achieve the proper centric relation.

As will be discussed hereinafter, there may he steps in the dental procedure wherein it is desirable to render adjuster rim 12 immovable. This is simply done as shown in FIG. 9 by employing locking bail 74 which includes a central nose 7-6 which projects in space 73 (FIGS. 2 and 3) between element 38 and central portion 46 of bracket 16. Nose 76also projects upwardly through slot 48. The remainder of the bail 74 is confined via notches 66, 68, 70 and 72 to complete the locking action.

The device 100 of FIGS. 6 to 8 is generally similar to the device of FIGS. 1 to and common reference characters where possible are used. The device of FIGS. 6 to 8, however, lacks marking notches 60, 62, 64 which may be added if so desired and also lacks slot 48 and locking notches 66, 68, 70 and 72. Device llltl differs from device in having its sideward bridge 18' so constructed as to lie in a single plane instead of the S-shaped configurations. Device 100 lacks a pin 41 for pivotal purposes and instead possesses a U-shaped gripping means 102 which pivotally grasps attachment cars 50 and 52 where they merge at bend 104.

It should be at once clear that device 100 may perform either or both of two pivotal movements in the same manner as device 10. The two pivotal movements are namely, a sideward pivotal movement about bend 104 and its axis, and a forward, backward pivotal movement about pivots and 32 as aforesaid.

In operation the device of the present invention is of great assistance in obtaining quick but accurate measurements. In a well known manner final impressions are taken. Bite blocks are then placed in the mouth and adapted as closely as possible to the vertical dimension of the jaws, to centric relation, fullness of the lips, center line, etc. The bite blocks are then waxed together at what appears to be the centric relation.

The laboratory thereafter relates the final models to the centric relation of the bite blocks and articulates them. The upper bite block is then replaced with a new base plate adapted carefully to the upper jaw. The present invention is attached with wax (as shown in FIGS. 1 and 6) to the new base plate and is in the locked or immovable state as shown in FIG. 9. The upper bite block assembly is now so arranged that planar base (U-shaped) 20 of adjuster rim 12 contacts the occlusal surface of the lower bite block exactly as the upper bite block had done before removal.

The lower bite block and the upper fitted base plate with the device of the present invention attached as aforesaid are inserted properly in the mouth and the locking means removed to permit pivoting of adjuster rim 12. The patient is instructed to close his mouth in a relaxed fashion and the present invention will immediately level and adjust itself to the lower bite block via pivoting about points 3t 32 and pin 40. In this manner there is an even, undistorted adaptation of the upper device to the lower bite block at every point of contact.

The three anterior notches are now used to mark the wax rim of the lower bite block at the exact points where the notches of adjuster rim 12 are in contact with the wax rim of the lower bite block. The markings may be simply checked and rechecked as desired in accordance with the foregoing procedure and using the device of the present invention.

A plaster matrix is then taken on each side of the mouth to incorporate the upper and lower base plates as unit and thus insure the maintenance of the precise centric relationship.

Where there is a possibility of change because of warpage and heat distortion encountered during final process ing, the final fit may be checked using the present device. Models are made from the finished dentures and articulated. The upper denture is removed from the model. A base plate is adapted to which the present device is added so that it contacts the teeth of the lower denture in the same relationship as the upper denture did previously. The foregoing assembly is then inserted into the patients mouth and a plaster check bite is made. The upper device and the lower dentures are rearticulated and the centric relation checked and adjusted if necessary.

When taking lateral and protrusive check bites, a thickness of wax is added to the lower base plate to represent the height of the cusps of the teeth. The distance of lateral movement is controlled to half the width of the molars.

The foregoing procedure may also be employed in checking dentures which have been worn for a period of time wherein the centric relation may have been distorted by uneven shrinkage of the soft underlying tissues or by improper initial fitting. Another suggested use is in taking lateral and protrusive check bites. It is clear, however, that the present invention is susceptible of wide use in dental techniques which should be obvious to one versed in this art. Moreover, as by suggestion and not limitation, the present device may be used in conjunction with attachments for and with gothic arch tracings and other well known dental instruments.

Obviously many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in the light of the above teachings. It is, therefore, to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

What is claimed as the invention is:

1. A dental bite correlator for assisting in duplicating the precise centric relation between the upper and lower jaws comprising in combination an upper jaw base plate adapted to be secured to the upper jaw, a generally U- shaped bite adjuster rim secured to said base plate and depending therefrom, the securement of said adjustment rim being effected through a base plate bracket secured to said upper base plate, a sideward bridge pivotally secured at substantially its center point to said base plate bracket,

said sideward bridge being pivotally secured at its end points to said adjustment rim whereby said adjustment rim may contact the lower jaw to conform to its configuration by pivotal movement of the adjustment rim as permitted by the pivoting of said sideward bridge about its center and end points.

2. The invention of claim 1 wherein said sideward bridge is corrugated.

3. The invention of claim 1 wherein said sideward bridge is planar.

4. The invention of claim 1 wherein marking notches for recording the precise centric relationship are formed in said adjustment rim.

5. The invention of claim 1 wherein said bracket includes a slit and wherein locking notches are provided in said adjustment rim whereby a locking bail may interfit in said notches and slit to lock said adjustment rim in a desired position.

6. A dental bite correlator for assisting in duplicating the precise centric relation between the upper and lower jaws comprising in combination an upper jaw base plate adapted to be secured to the upper jaw, a generally U- shaped bite adjuster rim secured to said base plate and depending therefrom, the securement of said adjustment rim being eifected through a base plate bracket secured to said upper base plate, a sideward bridge pivotally secured at substantially its center point to said base plate bracket, whereby said adjustment rim may contact the lower jaw to conform to its configuration by pivotal movement of the adjustment rim as permitted by the pivoting of said sideward bridge about its center point.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,629,177 Sahr Ma 17, 1927 1,799,528 Phillips Apr. 7, 1931 2,656,603 Brassie Oct. 27, 1953 2,696,668 Fox Dec. 14, 1954 2,841,872 Glueck July 8, 1958 

